5 Out of 9…….. Still Not Behind

Last Week

So far, so good. Each week I have been right at 60% on my picks which is the best you can hope for against Vegas. Will I have an off week like the Packers? Yes. Just hope to avoid an off year like the Giants.

This Week

This isn’t getting any easier that’s for sure. I only see 2 or 3 games where I like the spread, but that wouldn’t be enough right? Wait, it is my blog and my rules so I can choose as many as I like right? OK, I will roll the dice and pick my usual number just for fun. This week I see on overall trend in the NFL. There are several good teams that are slight favorites on the road against teams that are supposed to suck but so far showing signs of life. Teams like Cleveland, Buffalo and Detroit. Rust Belt cities with depressed economies and depressed fans. But hope springs eternal in September. Teams whose season could still go either way, like Clay Aiken.

NCAA

1 Texas A&M -3 over and @ Arkansas
Yes the Razorbacks are back. And yes the Aggies can’t tackle anyone. Yes the game will be a shoot out. In fact all Aggie games will be shoot outs. Just don’t think Arkansas has enough bullets.

2. Oklahoma -3.5 over and @ Notre Dame
Last year most people, including yours truly, picked the Sooners at home against the Irish but were dominated in Norman. (I was dominated in Norman once but kind of liked it.) This year the game is in South Bend so Oklahoma shouldn’t fare too well. right? Well the Irish have less fight this year and the Sooners are just a little better. How much better? Hopefully about 4 points better.

3. Florida -12.5 over and @ Kentucky
The Gators don’t have a QB, and the Wildcats don’t have much of a team. Would be a much better game if it were Basketball.

4. Ohio State -7 @ home over Wisconsin
Some teams don’t have QB and the Buckeyes have 2! Doesn’t seem fair. I really like the Badgers but the game is in the Horseshoe where the Buckeyes are hard to beat.

5. California + 36 over and @ Oregon.
The Ducks have been averaging about 70 points a game. What I am hoping is that the Bears can score about 35.

6. Arizona State -5.5 @ home over USC
The Trojans may have the best D in the country but can’t score. (The polar opposite of the Aggies.) So if the Sun Devils can get a couple of touchdowns, that might be enough.

NFL

(The first 3 games are those good teams playing at “question mark” teams.)

7. Baltimore -3 over and @ Buffalo
The Bills maybe pretty good, next year, or even next week. This week staying with the World Champs.

8. Cincinnati -4 over and @ Cleveland
The Browns maybe pretty good next year but not next week. The Bengal Tigers are one of the more complete teams in the league.

9. Chicago -2.5 over and @ Detroit
Ditto

10. Kansas City – 4.5 @ home over NY Giants
This might be a misprint. How could the Chiefs not be more of a favorite against the fading Giants? If this is no mistake, then this is the best bet of the weekend.

11. Indy -9.5 over and @ Jacksonville
I mentioned that there were several games with good teams against teams that are supposed to suck but don’t. Well the Jags definitely do.

12. Dallas -1.5 over and @ San Diego
I am staying with the Cowboys against my better judgement. SD–love my old home town but not my old home team. Ok, the Cowboys are also an old home team.

13. New Orleans – 7 @ home over Miami
Miami is the surprise team of the year so far. But the Saints are at home and will make Cajun fish stew out the Dolphins.

Happy Pigging Out

5-3 & 1 College Games Ruined My Fun

LAST WEEK

In the NFL, I was 4 & 0! Which of course means in my college picks I was an ugly 1-3-1. My tie was the Alabama/ A&M game in which the Aggies did just what I hoped they would do, keep it close and at least make it interesting and not embarrass themselves. Which is more than we can say for the Texas Longhorns. Yes, I am a fan of all things Texas including its great HS football.. But apparently they no longer teach how to tackle in the Lone Star State. Where do the best Texas HS players go?.. UT, A&M, Baylor, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. What do these teams have in common? They can score at will but anyone can score against them anytime. Kind of like Paris Hilton.
Can anyone stop Bama? Clearly only some team that can tackle. and score a little. Some team like LSU, or Georgia or South Carolina. Oh yeah and maybe Stanford which amazingly enough can tackle, run, pass and pass their SATS all at the same time.

THIS WEEK

Actually I don’t like any game this week that much. I like games in which the line jumps out at me as being way off. Which means someone in Vegas made a glaring error. They don’t make too many glaring errors in Vegas. Lets take the A&M game for example. Bama was favored by 7 & half points. And how much did they win by? 7 Points. The only reason they didn’t nail it exactly was because you can’t score a half a point in football. How do you beat these guys? You don’t of course, but I’ve got to pick some, right? So here goes……

NCAA

1. Rice -3 @ Houston
The Owls were the only college team that won for me last week so I am sticking with them. Even though they have to go on the road to play. That’s right, they have to travel about 10 miles from their home stadium.

2. Georgia Tech -7 @ home over North Carolina
I am picking Tech for the same reason I picked Rice. They have smart players like Stanford, and they run option offenses that aren’t that easy to prepare for. Which means they can beat teams with better players because we know the best players don’t always win. Right Texas? Right USC. And speaking of USC my next pick is:

3. Utah State + 7 @ USC
These Utah State Aggies are one of my favorite teams. They are better than people think and have a good QB. They should bea huge underdog to the Trojans. I mean who do you think can get the best players? The glamor school in the glamor town or Utah State?

4. Stanford -7.5 @ home over Arizona State
The Sun Devils got lucky in the desert last week. (I got lucky in the desert once, but that is a different story.) Both teams are very good. But one team is very good and very smart, and the Vegas wise guys like smart guys.

5. LSU -17.5 over Auburn.
In the Tale of these 2 Tigers, I am sticking with the Bengal species. They might be the most complete team in the country and play at home in front of almost 100,000 fans…..loud, drunk, Cajuns fans to boot.

NFL

6. Minnesota -7 @ home over Cleveland
By trading their best players the Browns are saying that they are giving up on the season. (A smart move by the way) But the Vikings think they still have a chance and as long as they have Adrian Peterson, they are right.

7. Buffalo +1 over and @ the Jets
Neither team is going anywhere this year, but the Bills are excited about their new QB and the prospects for this team in the future. The New York fans are excited about….. maybe the Knicks this year.

8. Bears + 2.5 over and @ Pittsburgh
I picked against the Steelers last week and now they are even more beat up. Especially along the offensive line. Meanwhile the Chicago O line is actually better, and giving Cutler a little time this year. And we know he has maybe the best arm in football. Both teams play great D also. So going with the one with the healthier offense.

9 Dallas -4 @ home over St. Louis
The Cowboys aren’t as good as people think and the Rams aren’t as bad. But the “Boys” are at home, coming off a big loss, and have the better players. Of course, the better players don’t always win. Right Texas?

Happy Vegging, Tony
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Tony Stone
9/20/13
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To: Connie Curran, tonystonehaha@hotmail.com
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5-3 & 1 College Games Ruined My Fun

5 Out of 9 Against The Vegas Line

LAST WEEK

It seems that time doesn’t exist outside of football and that we have been on a long hibernation and are back from the dead.. Yeah! Not to say that there isn’t life outside of football, it is just on a lower scale of reality. My first week went pretty well considering everyone is just guessing in the beginning. I did make one technical error in saying the Texas game was in Austin and there weren’t many Mormons there. Actually the game was in Provo, and there are nothing but Mormons there. Wouldn’t have mattered anyway as the Longhorns were going to embarrass themselves (and me) wherever they played.

In College Football, can anyone stop the SEC.. from cheating? No. And at Oklahoma State they paid the players, cheated on tests, looked the other way on drugs, and provided recruits with co-eds. In other words, they were just like everyone else. Don’t we all assume that they are all do this all the time, and that you would have to get a special investing body to prove to us the schools aren’t all cheating. And can anyone stop the SEC on the field? Probably not. Maybe Stanford even though they don’t cheat.

THIS WEEK

NCAA

1. Nevada + 34.5 @ Florida State
Nevada runs that pistol offense that is now all the rage in both college and the pros. They aren’t able to pay for the caliber of athletes that the Seminoles have, nor do they have as many 5 Star Coeds to offer players, but that offense of theirs should be good for a few points and that will keep the score closer than 34.

2, Alabama -7.5 @ Texas A&M
This is a win-win for me. I am rooting hard for the Aggies and Johnny Football against the Evil Empire . But if they lose, I win.. By the way if I were a young recruit, I think my favorite coach to play for would have to be A&M’s Kevin Sumlin. What a cool guy. The Evil genius over at Bama not so much. All he does is win. How boring.

3. Penn State -7.5 @ home over Central Florida
I know what you are thinking….. They have a team in Central Florida? Yes, and I have been to the campus in Orlando and they aren’t bad at all. But PSU is pretty good. And, they play at home in front of 100,000 fans in a beautiful setting there in Happy Valley. It is a great place to see a college game and bring the kids. OK maybe not.

4. California + 15.5 @ home over Ohio State
The Buckeyes may be missing their QB and the new Bear Coach Spike Dykes is throwing it around like he was still at La.Tech or Texas Tech. And yes, they play football at Berkeley.

5. Rice – 6.5 @ home over Kansas
They probably don’t cheat at Rice either, and the aren’t very good at cheating at Kansas. But how can the Owls be favored over a big time program. They aren’t. They are favored over Kansas.

NFL

6. Baltimore -7 @ home over Cleveland
This spread doesn’t seem right. Maybe I misread the odds sheet again and the game is in Cleveland. Well, either way,
I got to go with the Ravens who are coming off an embarrassing lost to Peyton and the boys, and are also a much better team.

7. Tennessee + 10.5 over and @ Houston.
Yes I did pick the Texans to go to the Super Bowl. (and lose to who ever wins the much stronger NFC). But the Titan’s D is playing surprisingly well. After one game that is. And they should be able to keep it close. Of course, the Titans used to be the Oilers so it should count as a partial home game for them.

8. Cincinnati -7.5 @ home over Pittsburgh
Both teams coming off loses but the Steelers also lost a bunch of players to injuries last week and were not going to be the Steelers we have come to fear…… this year anyway. The Bengals looked good in defeat, Pittsburgh did not.

9. Oakland -5.5 @ home over Jacksonville
This game could set the league back years! How could I pick the Raiders to beat anyone? Did you see the Jags game last week? They were lucky to score 2 points. Tim Tebow could start for either team at QB. Enough said.

Happy Viewing and go Aggies . Win or.. Keep it close anyway

Here we Go!

Only my sister Kaye seem to notice that I didn’t bother to write a blog for the first week of the college season. Well, I have an excellent excuse. I couldn’t find time to fit it into my busy summer schedule…. of doing absolutely nothing. Ok, back to work and reality.

Overall College predictions for the season.

National Champ…. Duh.. Alabama, of course. I would LOVE to pick someone else but how can I? The only hope for the rest of the teams is that they all flunk out. But that ain’t going to happen, because at Bama the jocks can still pass every class even if they say.. ain’t. Actually there is one legit hope for the rest of us. Their O line is no longer filled with # 1 draft choices. Well, not yet anyway. So their offense probably is not going to dominate. But if you can’t score, you can’t bet them, and their D could be even better. And that is a scary thought now ain’t it?

The team with the best chance to dethrone the champs is.. Drum roll please… Stanford. The Cardinal is a SEC caliber team and how can that be? They have big physical offense and defensive line + great Linebackers. And aren’t all lineman big and dumb. And you can’t be dumb and go to Stanford.. Yes they are big and smart, and that just ain’t right. But they do have to play Oregon and Washington among others, so it won’t be easy. And speaking of the Huskies…..

Surprise team of the year… Washington. And yes, I thought that before week one, when they beat the heck out of Boise State. (And you will have to take my word on that one.) They have a Prince of a QB, and a great Running Back and good players on both sides of the ball. In fact, they way underachieved last year.

NFL Super Bowl Champs.. Duh San Francisco. Yes, they are everyone’s pick, and with good reason. They have a great D, great O line, great QB, Running Back and Tight end. Their only flaw is that they lost their best wide out, Crabtree, for most of the season. Their closest competitor is Seattle in their own division. In fact the top 4 of 5 teams in the whole league are all NFC teams. So how will they face in the Super Bowl? I am going with Houston….again. They looked great until the end of the season last year when they ran into the Patriots and you know who. But the Texans get Brian Cushing back and should be better on D. And a new rookie receiver to take pressure off Andre Johnson, so their O could also be better. In the meanwhile, Tom Terrific might not be so Terrific this year. Since he lost most of his best receivers from last year. One to injury, one to free agency and one to Jail! They replaced one fast little white receiver from Texas Tech, with another fast little white guy from Texas Tech. Only he ain’t quite as good. Oh and my surprise NFL team… Cincinnati. The Bengals have no real super stars, though they have a couple of candidates in A.J. Green and Geno Atkins but overall their talent is good, their D should be very good and their QB has only one flaw. He is a redhead. Just kidding Editor Connie.

College Picks

1. Florida – 3 over and @ Miami
Miami is almost all the way back to being Miami. I still feel Florida is a little bit better. How much better? About 3 points.

2. Georgia – 3 over South Carolina at home
The Bulldogs don’t want to lose 2 straight to schools from South Carolina, do they? And yes, the Gamecocks might be even better than Clemson and maybe the Old Ball Coach might have Georgia’s number, but the game is in Athens and the Dogs should be on fire after losing last week.

3. Texas -7 @ home over BYU
Is Texas back to being Texas? Wel,l the jury is still out. And BYU is always a better team than people think. But the Horns are at home in front of 100,00 loud fans, most of which are not Mormons.

4. Michigan -3 @ home over Notre Dame
We don’t really know how good either of these teams are yet, but I think the Wolverines are a little bit better. How much better? About 3 points. And they will be playing in front of 110,00 fans most of which aren’t loud or Mormons, though many maybe Catholics.

NFL PICKS

5. Houston -4 over and @ San Diego
I picked the Texans to make to the Super Bowl, didn’t I? So surely they can handle the Chargers who seem to be going down hill.

6. SF -4 @ home over Green Bay
I picked the Niners to win it all, didn’t I? So surely they will win at home. But of course, the Packers are pretty good as is their QB. However, SF probably has the best D in the league.

7. Dallas -3 @ home over NY Giants
I try to stay away from Cowboy games because I don’t want to let my hometown bias get in the way. But I think Dallas is a little better and the Giants a little worse. Every team has injuries issues already, but the Giants have way more than average. The Cowboys might surprise with their Defense this year. Being surprisingly good that is. Being bad wouldn’t be a surprise.

8. Pittsburgh -7 @ home over Tennesse
Both teams are question marks. Most people expect the Steelers to drop off a little. But the Titans are really unknown and could go either way. Like Clay Aiken.

9. Kansas City -4 over and @ Jacksonville
Again, we don’t know much about the Chiefs as yet. I do know that I picked them as my surprise team last year and they totally collapsed. But the Jags are a proven product. No guessing about Jacksonville. We know they are going to suck.

Yeah Football is back! Tony